Toronto’s Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) expansion team is seeking input from fans to help decide the name and branding of the team, with a specific emphasis on engaging all of Canada in the process.
In an interview on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning, team president Teresa Resch emphasized that naming and identifying the team has been a top priority.
“We are excited to involve Canadians in generating ideas and finding inspiration,” she stated.
The team has launched a website to crowdsource suggestions from fans for names, colors, logos, and what values and themes they want the team to represent.
Resch added, “We want people to be a part of this journey with us.”
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Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that Toronto will be the 14th WNBA franchise, set to begin play in the 2026 season. The team has been awarded to Kilmer Sports Ventures, headed up by MLSE minority owner Larry Tannenbaum.
The team’s “call for inspiration” on their website will be open until Aug. 28, with submissions reviewed by a team of designers and advisors who will craft the official brand of the team.
Once a shortlist of options is developed, it will be vetted legally and then shared through the team’s blog and social media channels for final selection before the end of the year.
Kilmer Sports Ventures, led by Larry Tanenbaum, is the owner of the team, which has yet to be named since its announcement in May.
Tanenbaum’s group paid $115 million US for the team, following his success in bringing the NBA’s Raptors to Toronto three decades ago.
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Women’s professional basketball is coming to Toronto in May 2026. Kilmer Sports Inc., led by Toronto billionaire Larry Tanenbaum, has been granted an expansion franchise with the Women’s National Basketball Association.
The team will play at the 8,700-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum in downtown Toronto at Exhibition Place, with a possibility of moving to the 19,800-seat Scotiabank Arena for select games. The arena, over a century old, also hosts the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and previously welcomed the PWHL’s first-ever Toronto team.
Toronto’s new WNBA team is set to debut in May 2026, becoming the league’s 14th franchise alongside the upcoming Golden State Valkyries.
Resch mentioned that the focus has been on getting the business started, with plans for player contracts, coaching, and the front office management to be finalized after the current WNBA season.
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